Louisiana Pre-Files Sports Betting BillBill Gets Full Two Months To Get Through Legislative Hurdles |
|
Louisiana is so anxious to make sports betting legal in their state that one senator has decided to pre-file the bill ahead of the start of the legislative session.
Last week, Republican Senator Danny Martiny filed SB 153, also known as the 2019 Louisiana Sports Wagering Control Act, which would legalize betting on both professional and college sporting events in the state.
The legislative session commenced this week and runs through the first week of June. By pre-filing, Martiny gives the bill as much time as possible to clear all of the legislative hurdles standing in its way.
The unique part of this legislation is that if this bill were to become law, it would not legalize sports betting statewide. It must be voted on by each local municipality. When Louisiana legalized daily fantasy sports, only 48 of the 64 communities voted to approve it in their area.
If the legislation is passed, local communities could pass a referendum this November and gambling facilities in the area could apply for a license through the state starting in January 2020.
The bill would not allow for mobile sports betting apps and there are no tax rates or fees for licenses laid out in the bill.
According to estimates, Louisiana sportsbooks should expect between $245 million and $288 million in revenue. Last year, the state filed legislation to legalize online gambling, which would have included online poker and sports betting. It failed to pass.
Copyright © 2001-2024
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
